Computing device operational control using monitored energy storage device health parameters

Abstract

One or more energy storage device health parameters are monitored in a computing device. Backup of a volatile portion of a memory device such as a non-volatile dual in-line memory module (NVDIMM) is initiated based on the one or more monitored energy storage device parameters satisfying a predetermined operational condition. Example energy storage device health parameters include a State of Health (SOH) parameter and a State of Charge (SOC) parameter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling a backup operation of a volatile memory device on a computing device, the method comprising:
 monitoring one or more health parameters of an energy storage device in the computing device;   determining whether the one or more health parameters satisfy a predetermined operational condition;   executing the backup operation when the one or more health parameters are determined to satisfy the predetermined operational condition; and   inhibiting execution of the backup operation when the one or more health parameters are determined to not satisfy the predetermined operational condition.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring includes:
 querying a register in a power supply unit of the computing device for the one or more health parameters.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 querying a basic input/output system (BIOS) unit for a storage capacity of the volatile memory device, wherein the predetermined operational condition is based on the storage capacity.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 writing an event to a system event log responsive to determining that the one or more health parameters do not satisfy the predetermined operational condition.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 writing an event to system event log responsive to the monitoring.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further including:
 ascertaining, during the monitoring, that a monitored one of the one or more health parameters is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount less than a previously monitored one of the one or more health parameters, wherein the writing is responsive to the ascertaining.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the executing includes:
 copying data from the volatile memory device to a non-volatile memory device.   
     
     
         8 . A computing device, comprising:
 a volatile memory device;   a power supply unit that includes an energy storage device;   an energy storage device health monitor that monitors one or more health parameters of the energy storage device; and   an energy storage device backup predictor that determines whether the one or more health parameters satisfy a predetermined operational condition, initiates execution of a backup operation of the volatile memory device when the one or more health parameters are determined to satisfy the predetermined operational condition, and initiates inhibition of execution of the backup operation of the volatile memory device when the one or more health parameters are determined to not satisfy the predetermined operational condition.   
     
     
         9 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein the energy storage device health monitor monitors by
 querying a register in the power supply unit for the one or more health parameters.   
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 8 , further including a memory status monitor that queries a basic input/output system (BIOS) unit for a storage capacity of the volatile memory device, wherein the predetermined operational condition is based on the storage capacity. 
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 8 , further including an event log controller that writes an event to a system event log responsive to determining that the one or more health parameters do not satisfy the predetermined operational condition. 
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 8 , further including an event log controller that writes an event to system event log responsive to the monitoring. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 12 , wherein the energy storage device backup predictor ascertains, during the monitoring, that a monitored one of the one or more health parameters is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount less than a previously monitored one of the one or more health parameters, wherein the event log controller writes responsive to the ascertaining. 
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein the energy storage device backup predictor initiates the execution by triggering a backup controller to copy data from the volatile memory device to a non-volatile memory device. 
     
     
         15 . One or more tangible processor-readable storage media embodied with instructions for executing on one or more processors and circuits of a device a process for controlling a backup operation of a volatile memory device on a computing device, the process comprising:
 monitoring one or more health parameters of an energy storage device in the computing device;   determining whether the one or more health parameters satisfy a predetermined operational condition;   executing the backup operation when the one or more health parameters are determined to satisfy the predetermined operational condition; and   inhibiting execution of the backup operation when the one or more health parameters are determined to not satisfy the predetermined operational condition.   
     
     
         16 . The one or more tangible processor-readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein the monitoring includes:
 querying a register in a power supply unit of the computing device for the one or more health parameters.   
     
     
         17 . The one or more tangible processor-readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein the process further includes:
 querying a basic input/output system (BIOS) unit for a storage capacity of the volatile memory device, wherein the predetermined operational condition is based on the storage capacity.   
     
     
         18 . The one or more tangible processor-readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein the process further includes:
 writing an event to a system event log responsive to determining that the one or more health parameters do not satisfy the predetermined operational condition.   
     
     
         19 . The one or more tangible processor-readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein the process further includes:
 writing an event to system event log responsive to the monitoring.   
     
     
         20 . The one or more tangible processor-readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein the executing includes:
 copying data from the volatile memory device to a non-volatile memory device.